These include addicts found dead with drug-taking equipment present and those whom a post-mortem examination revealed had taken illegal drugs.

Every death represents a tragic waste of life

Hugh HenryDeputy Justice Minister

The figures issued by the registrar general reflect all of the deaths attributable to drug-related causes in the year 2003.

Apart from those detailed in the police statistics, they include the deaths of addicts whose bodies have simply failed because of long-term abuse, suicides with a drugs overdose and those who have died accidentally through the involvement of drugs.

The registrar general's report showed that of the 317 deaths last year, heroin/morphine was involved in 175, diazepam in 153 and methadone in 87.

Geographical breakdown

The highest number of deaths, 107, was in the Greater Glasgow Health Board area. There were 40 in Lothian and 37 in Grampian.

Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry welcomed the fall but said further action was needed to reduce drug fatalities.

"Every death represents a tragic waste of life and many will involve combinations of drugs, including alcohol, which serves to underline the chaotic and dangerous lifestyles which many of the victims will have had," he said.

But Scottish Drugs Forum director David Liddell warned: "We've seen such a substantial rise in the numbers of drug-related deaths that to actually bring it under control is going to take a fair bit longer."